Federal Appeals Ruling on Arson Case

An Atlanta appeals court has upheld arson convictions against a man who set several Georgia churches on fire, including one that killed a volunteer firefighter.

Jay Scott Ballinger went on trial four years ago in federal court.

He was found guilty of setting fires to five churches, two of which are in Murray County.

Ballinger was sentenced to life in prison.

He later appealed the ruling, saying he should not have been found guilty of federal crimes.

But on Monday, the Eleventh U-S Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision that said Ballinger's crimes do fall within the jurisdiction of the federal courts.

Authorities say Ballinger set more than 20 churches on fire across several states, including Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.

The Indiana native considered himself a missionary of Lucifer and described the church burnings as his work and business.